Likewise, liking can come about by more superficial means. Attractive people can more easily flirt their way to success in more ventures than the unattractive. This is not lost to members of cults who tell their most attractive members to guide the curious into the next level of indoctrination.

Hi,

Would you rephrase the sentence in blue? I think I understand each word but I have liitle idea about what it means.
Q1: What does "this is not lost to" mean?
Q2: What does "this" refer to? Does it refer to "the advantage of attractive people"?